Softball Slips to Iowa Wesleyan in Season Opener, 7-2

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Suffolk softball pulled the curtain back on its 40th season with a 7-2 setback to Iowa Wesleyan Thursday afternoon at the NMB Sports Complex as part of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Iowa Wesleyan 7
RECORD: Suffolk (0-1) | Iowa Wesleyan (4-12) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Ella Turnbull found herself in a bases loaded, two-out jam in the first two innings. The sophomore twirler escaped both with no damage done to keep things scoreless.   

Iowa Wesleyan managed to put a two-out rally together in the third, however, to take a 2-0 lead. A double from Karoline Stratton things it going. Emma Haines replaced Stratton on the bag and moved over thanks to Julia Hill's base hit to second before Alexis Davis brought the two Tigers in on a triple to center to put the Rams in a two-run hole.

Maddie Southers opened the home half of the inning with her first collegiate hit, a two-bagger to left center. The extra base knock did not spark anything for Suffolk though and the score stayed in Iowa Wesleyan's favor.

In the top of the fourth, the Tigers continued the pattern of chucking the bases with two outs, which ended Turnbull's day in the circle. Ava Brandow took over and caught a line drive back to her to end the inning and keep the two-run distance.

Brandow opened the bottom of the inning with a double to left field. Two hitters later Catherine Carignan made her first collegiate plate appearance and made the most of the opportunity as she connected for a single through the life side that brought in Brandow to slice the gap in half.

The Tigers bats got going again in the top the fifth as they tallied four runs on four hits to extend their advantage to 6-1. 

Savannah Scripter's base hit to right field plated Ally Cifaratta, who reached thanks to a single of her own, to chip the deficit down to four, 6-2. 

Following a scoreless sixth, Iowa Wesleyan took a 7-2 lead in the top of the seventh to put the Rams in a five-run hole.

That score stood still as Aspyn Harrison retired the side for the third time, second straight inning, to secure the victory for the Tigers.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Turnbull took the loss after giving up two runs on seven hits and six walks over 3.2 innings of work with three strikeouts on her stat line.
• Brandow let up five runs on six hits and one walk with one punchout in 3.1 frames of relief.
• Harrison had a two-run, six-hit, one-walk, eight-strikeout, complete-game on the rubber.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Suffolk's six hits were scattered across five batters.
• Scripter put together a 2-for-3 effort with one RBI.
• Brandow and Southers each produced one double.
• Brandow also added one run and drew the Rams only walk of the outing.
• Cifaratta and Carignan each contributed one hit. The former scored one run, while the latter brought one run in.

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams made their season debut on a neutral diamond for the second straight Season.
• Since 1987, Suffolk is 8-27 in the first game of the year.
  Suffolk moved to 0-2 in the Janet Maguire era.
• Suffolk met Iowa Wesleyan for the first time.
• Bella Rocha-Medeiros, Carignan and Southers made their collegiate debut, they both got their first career hits.  
• Southers' first collegiate hit was a double. 

POST-GAME PIC

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is back in action tomorrow, Friday, March 10 with a pair of games at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The Rams will first take on TCNJ at 1:00 p.m. before facing Penn State Hazleton at 5:00 p.m.